Work

How the Sarah Everard Case has Changed Public Perceptions of Police Officers

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: News can have profound effects on public perceptions of the police. The public's views of the police following the widespread case of Sarah Everard have yet to be examined, despite it's link to violence against women and girls. This research explored the impact of this case on public perceptions of the police in the period afterwards. An analysis of 107 social media posts uncovered seven themes showing this case caused extreme fear and anxiety. While some viewed the incident as a "bad apple," most tweets showed distrust toward the police force as a whole, raising repercussions for police-public relationships and reporting decisions.

Source: Violence Against Women

DOI: 10.1177/10778012251366237

Authors: Summer Rita Josephine Herbert, Maria Ioannou, Calli Tzani, Rachel Fletcher, Thomas James Vaughan Williams

Institution: University of Huddersfield

Language: English

Topic: Policing Practices and Perceptions

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,650